Less To Give – Ilana Charnelle

From the album Play Nice (2018).
Written for the collaborative live art project, Tensions: Curated Work (2015)
After ‘Drift’ by James O’Donoghue

It all starts with a goodbye, staring the void in the eye
You might not realise at the time, another part is gone
You felt it coming, the decay; stem the break for one more day
But over time it wore away, and now you’re on your own

Like plastic breaking down
My half-life’s getting shorter now
Every time I break apart I’ve got a little less to give
The point of no return, crumble more after every burn
Every time it happens it’s a shorter life to live
Every time I break apart I’ve got a little less to give

Can’t rip you out that easily; when I let you go, you take some of me
So I lie beside you quietly and wish I was alone
Early days are always good, the joy of being understood
I said I will when I thought I never would
Life’s exhausting on your own
Oh

Like plastic breaking down
My half-life’s getting shorter now
Every time I break apart I’ve got a little less to give
The point of no return, crumble more after every burn
Every time it happens it’s a shorter life to live
Every time I break apart I’ve got a little less to give

I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine
I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine
Smile a little, breathe real deep
Say it till you don’t lose sleep
I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine
I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine

I’m at the point of no return, crumble more after every burn
Every time it happens it’s a shorter life to live
I’m at the point of no return,
Oh, crumble more after every burn
Every time it happens it’s a shorter life to live
Every time I break apart I’ve got a little less to give